THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqutx.

TUESDAY, May 15, 19C6. "It is a little surprising when an actor first comes to Australia to find what a keen interest the general public tak& in a man's private life and appearance. It ha-s been aid of me" (remarked Julius Knight to_ an interviewer) "that I wear scarlet waistcoats, with blue ties and yellow boots, in tho street. This is rather hard to bear, as .1- detest vulgarity in any form." Positively the last appearance in Dunedin of the Black Family of Musicians is announced. This may mean that after the two concerts in the Garrison. Hall musiclovers in this oity will know them no more forever; or it may not. "Apropos of the Black Family. There is scarcely a spot worthy to be so designated in the whole of New Zealand which the Family has not at some period visited. The knowledge of the geography of tho colony being now complete, it is the intention of the All Black Family to visit Tasmania and Australia before setting out on a tour oPthe South Seas. . Lovers of grand opera music are promasea

something of a treat on -Thursday and Friday of this week, when the Dunedin Choral Society produce "Faust." His Majesty's Theatre ha 6 been engaged for Gounod'« masterpiece. The soloists are : Marguerite, Miss Amy Murphy ; Siebel, Miss Frances Grant; Mephistopheles, Mr Hamilton Hodges ; Valentine, Mr Harry Smith ; Faust, Mr R. F. Foster, jun. ; Wagner, Mr William 'Thomson. A full .orchestra and chorus will accompany the vocalists. The first performance is to be reserved for honorary members of the society only, the general public being admitted to the second performanc on Friday, May 18. Fullers' Entertainers, are producing a bright programme at the Alhambra this week. The company, includes, amongst others, Rexo, the marvellous equilibrist;, Charles Hayes", contortionist ; Miss Gertrude Emery, trapeze artiste; and Dolly Lp. Strange, balladist.

Brandon Creamer, one time coach to the now defunct Roscius Dramatic Society in this city, was at latest, in Adelaide playing with Stanford's Dramatic Company. >, The many admirer* of Mr Reginald Roberts, who was> in -San Francisco at the time of the earthquake, will be glad to hear that he is alive and well, and that he is coming back to Australia. Mr Roberts lost everything in the earthquake, but his voice and his art remained. These had been secured previously by Mr Williamson, and Mr Roberts is now on his way to Mcl bourne to 'fulfil his enjragement.

Before- leaving Australia Mr Julius Knight, the popular actor, entered into an engagement with Mr George Tallin, on behalf of "The. Firm," to re-appsar in Australia next year. Mr Ta'lis ' says that it will be a lengthy engagement, and an entirely new company will support Mr Knight, who will be the sole star.-' Mr Knight is to spend the next nine months in England and America engaging artists and securing plays.

Mr Richard Gcodall. who sLyes the first of a series of concerts in His Majesty's Theatre on the night of the 23rd, is an American entertainer of repute. The> son of a famous actor, Mr Goodall was born in Kentucky, and, early imbued with the traditions of bis State, he has had a varied career. He is the author of, several highly successful plays, including "The Two Colonels" and "A Million a Minute," and of several sones that have attained wide popularity. He was for some time attached to a great American newspaper as daily caricaturist. At these concerts he will tell efories and recite his own verses. He has certain curious opinions — as, for instance, that a professional entortainer ehouid only offer to the public matter composed by himself. Mr Goodall is a very able reconteur, and the verses -jie recites' are very effective and charming, and withal very American. One piece, "Pitching the Tune." widolv potjular .in America, will certainly grip Dunedin, and there are others. Mr Goodali believes that New Zealand is a fine show .country, and his present scheme ia to get some experience of the country preparatory to introducing a combination of American artists that must succeed here. He says that there is a class of American entertainment— the highest development of the type of vaudeville — that New Zealand has not yet had opportunity of judging. He wants to give us that orroorttinitv. And that sounds well, anyhow. Mr Goodall will be supported on the 23rd by various ablp 'amateur*, and a few minutes will be yielded to the all-conquering and everpopular cinematograph.

Tha mail steamer Sonoma sails definitely from San Francisco in a few days, and thuts the management of Edison's Popular Pictures are enabled to announce their opening date in New Zealand for June at the Town Hall, Wellington. The southern cities will foilow on immediately. As a fitting climax to "America at Work," a comprehensive scries of films depicting the earthquake at 'Frisco are included. These should prove of a highly-interesting nature. With the show is Mr Avalon Collard. the English te>ror. whose original vocal characterisations will form a pleasant adjunct to the pictorial display.

One of the features of the pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Christchuroh, is the "March of Nations, " in which squads of young ladies, dressed in appropriate costumes, march round the stage. The management has been quite up to date since arriving in Chti6tchurch, and now, when the several national representatives have takon up their places, four fair damsels, dressed in gorgeous costumes, with fernleavce on black grounds, an.4 bearing a banner, inscribed "New Zealand," march on. and fairly "bring down the house."

Evidence that colonial talont is makinjr its mark on the English stage is furnished in. a letter to hand by the latest mail, advising of the success of Mr Reynolds Denniston, of thi3 city, who graduated with the local Garriek Club. After playing for several seasons with Mr Edward Rass in South Africa Mr Denniston proceeded to London, where he was not long in securing an engagement. Tho young actor was at la 4 *L.'b touring the English provinces with those well-known artists Mr and Mrs Kendal. The following extract from a letter received will be read with int.°rest : — "Doesn't Urns fly! We have already been on tour «ix weeks, and only another eight to run. I am working v^ry ronEcionfiously and liard, and it is hard work with theso people. The standard is a hit>h one. and jou can imagine it uants all you knew

and possess to comply with that standard when playing with two such thorough artists as Mr and Mrs Kendal. I am hopeful of being re-engaged for the autumn tour, but, of course, one can never be sure. We are in Leeds this week, having come up from London after a fortnight in the suburbs; but the weather has been awful — that is the only word — rain, snow, hail, and bitterly cold, and I am anxiously waiting for the summer. Do you remember Mr G. H. Smith, manager for the late Wilson Barrett, and, since his (Barrett's) death, partner of Wheeltef in South Africa? I had a note from him last week, saying he was in London preparatory to going out to Australia, and asking me to call upon him. I did so, and chatted about a prospective tour of Australia and New Zealand in a couple of years' time. Of course, it is a long time ahead, but he thought I should be capable of shouldering the responsibility of leading man in two years' time."

The charge against Michael Joseph, business manager for Win. Anderson's Pantomime Company, for alleged overcrowding of the Theatre Royal, Ohristchurch. on the night of Friday, May 4, was dismissed. The Theatre Royal is licensed to hold 966 persons — 246 in the dress circle, 10 in each of the boxes. 400 in the stalls, and 300 in the pit The evidence of- Michael Joseph, defendant, wont to show that when the inspector complained there were 174 tickets sold at the pit and V 56 day sak3. - The stall sal&s were 336 altogether. The theatre was one of the finest in the colony in respect of escapes, and he believed it could be cleared in three minutes. Witness produced his official record of t.he sales, proving that there were 388 persons in the stalls- on the night in question. His Worship €aid he was prepared to take the evidence that a number of persons were standing as prima facie evidence that the stalls were overcrowded, but. beyond that he would _ not go. Where there was absolute and direct evidence. 6uch as had been priven that there wero a less number present thin the license permitted, the prosecution must at once fall through. He agreed that the onus of proof rested with the inspectors, and it S3**ned to him tn-at Co- carry out the requirements of the by-law they must do more thaii" count the nersons standing;. If the officers did not do their duty he was not coing to bolster up thoir cases for theni. This case had been probably the best advertisemput Ihf> company could have hod. At the pantomime at Bolton (En,g.) one of the bigjrest hita was made en the subject of Houdini, the handcuff kinsr. The principal boy approached the leading comedian with the following lines: "I am, selling photographs of the great Houdini. the famous handcuff king and prison-breaker, who has escaped, from, all tb* loading «aols after being bound hand and fcot Would you like to buy one?" Comedian replies. "Why certainly." He hands over ■ the money' and gets the photograph wrapped up in caper, open* it, a.-d finds to his pj^prise tlvnv is nothing ;.n; .n t.he pap^- . rushes back to the principal boy, and both look at the empiy paper in astonishment, when, after a few seconds' silenc*. tho comedian raclaima, 'Tin blowed if he hasn t escaped asrain." „ Reported in an English paper that llr William Anderson, the Australian manager, may try his fortune in London. with his Australian successes— "The Battla and the Breeze," "The Favourite," and "Thunderbolt." This is reaUy going from home for news, and getting it. Paris will shortly be able to lay claim to be the home of the frea theatre. A committee has been formed for the popularisation of theatre-going amongst the masses. It started with the assumption that if it is to succeed no price must be charged for admission. The committee has already decided to establish four new theatre in Paris on popular lines, where selections from the very best dramanc authora will be produced. The neceesary money for the enterprise will be raised by lottery. A portion of the funds thus obtained will be reserved for theatrical developments in the provinces on similar lines. Artists employed at these theatres will be free to enter into engagements elsewhere. The theatres themselves will be run by the State. A Sydney appreciation of Miss Rosina Buekman; "Her voice is pure, excellently produced, and of fine quality. She is far above the average, and it is a matter oi surprise that we have not heard her earlier in concert."

It appears after a!l that Mr George Mus-•n-ove, who is now touring in Amorica with his Sweet Nell of Old Drury Co., was amongst those Australians wuo were imperilled by the recent earthquake at San Francisco, and succeeded in escaping without sustaining any serious injury. Mr Ernest Collins, of the Princess Iheatre, Melbourne, who represents. Mr Musgrove in Australia, received a cablegram in which Mr Musgrove stated, among-.t otner matters, that he was "present at the disaster, received a severe shook, lost all my personal property, but escaped without serious injury." Mr Musgrove was staying at the St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, which escaped damage, but the personal property which he lost was at the Majestic Theatre, which was enveloped in the ruins. That the Invercargill Dramatic Club will contribute a fair share cf revenue to the new theatre is shown by the fact (^ays a Southland par.er) that since March, 1903, when they played the first drama e\er staged in the Zealandia Hall, they have given 21 performance-, for which they had paid the sum of £93 for rent of hall. As the club is now in a flourishing condition, ard as there will be l«=s difficulty in staging in the new theatre, they intend reproducing their large reperioiro of plays at the rate of one c\ery month during the winter of 1907. Dear Pasquin. — Ju»t a few lines to let you know our whereabouts. We are on our way to the goldficlds. Picture showing is getting more like a game of draughts, one hardly knows which move to take. Business has been excellent, playing to packed houses everywhere with our new pictures. — With kindest regards, Tom Shaw" Valvxtixe.

Mr J. C. Bain does not as yet publicly announoe the fact, thoueb he modestly says so iv private talk, that he is budding out 33 a mueic ball proprietor of importance. To his Hobart and Launce-ton ventures he is about to add similar responsibilities in Bnllarat and Bendigo. "I've been trying to got ka-es of the halls there for yoar=." he says. "and have at last sucoeded. With the four places running, and mv business arrangements v.'ith Mr Harry Rickards, I shall b. able to wondei fully tone up my pr<xiuction~. It's a big risk, but I can see money >n it." Fortune favours the brave! Messrs J. and N. Tait, the well-known

concert managers of Melbourne, send particulars regarding the engagements they have just made with Mdlle Antonia Dolores, the favourite soprano, ' and Madamo Clare Butt, the world-famed contralto. Mdlle Dolores will commence the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on August 11 n*xt. The immense popularity enjoyed all through the colony by this really remarkable artist© ia 50 well known that it is well worth whila commenting upon it. This 6inger came to Australasia first some^ 10 years ago, and has paid us three visits" since then. It was during her last tour that the people suddenly realised that Dolores was the greatest concert platform soprano of the present day, and, added with her wonderful personality, t was hardly to be wondered at that^ her last tour was a veritable triumph. No concert hall throughout the colonies was large enough to hold the vast crowds that were anxious to hear her before she It ft for America, and, naturally, hundreds who would have liked- to hear her simply could not obtain admission, so personal and 'ether friends of the soprano exacted a promise from her that the would revisit Australasia asd Nevr Zealand. Mdlle Dolores practically there and then arranged with Mr JSFevin Tait for the proposed touT. although no definite date eotild be arranged at that period, but it was to be settled when Mr Tait met Mdlle. Dolores in Germany, and it is pleasing to hear that the actual date has now * been fixed for August 11. "I feel so strongly about girls going on to the stage," said Miss Elleu Terry once, when interviewed. "They talk so glibly about it, but tl.«y don't understand it n bit, I look upon going on the stage as a divine mission — a mission intended for the few aud not the many. You can't teach acting. It is the same as everything else — acting is a gift, a precious gift, which must be hig-hly cultivated, and those who possess it can't go and' t'e their talent up in a napkin and bury it in the ground. It must — it will — come out. I examine lot 3 of girls in elocution : but how few of them possess the one thinsf needful!"

"Although I am a native of Australia (born in Geelong), I have never played there,", says Mr Oscar Asche. who was at latest appearing at the Adelphi. "It is true that in my salad days I toyed with Othello, Julius C»sar, and erehlike trifles, with an amateur society in Sydney. But the stage did not claim m» professionally until about 15 years ago, when I went to Norway (my father's biithplace) to study at the National Theatre under the son of Bjorr Bjornsterne. I stayed there for nearly two years, and I tell you we were hard workers in that academy. I was with Benson for eight years. And in that time I think I played about ICO parts in Mr Shakespeare's little gallery, of portraits alone. Old! comedies, too. Most enjoyable. I wag Gardiner in Had&'on Chambers's 'Captain Swift,' with Mr Tree, and as© created Maldonado in 'Iris.' My ambitions? Well, I intend before very long to play Othello. There is no Bart I have a greater wish to attempt,. And some day I contemplate an Australian tour, under niy own management, and with my own company, in a series of Shakespearian characters. When? Ah. for the present London claims all my time and energies, and the future is on ths knees of the gods!"

After the many cab'es whicih passed between his American agents and Mr J. C. Williamson regarding the whereabouts of Mr William Collier and his company and the final assurance that they were all safely away, it was a shock for him to receive at the end of last wwk another cablegram from Messrs J. D. Sprcckel and Co. announcing that the company was safe at Oaklands, a suburb across the bay from San Francisco. As this cable was dispatched only the day before the Moana sailed _ from Vancouver, acd Oaklands is at least 50 hours? journey from, there, the news naturally caused Mr Williamson much anxiety, more especially as he had confidently made definite announcements that Mr Collier would opem in Melbourne on the 26th inst. The wires were at once set to work, and after a day's worry the puzzle was solved by the receipt of a cable from Mr Reginald Roberts, saying that they were all safely on board the mai! steamer. He elaborated his cable with tile significant words "completely exhausted," so that it may bo assumed that the unfortunate people had a wild rush across country in order to be in time to catch the steamer to Australia.

Two important engagements have just b&en concluded by Sir, J. C. Williamson with a view to strengthening' still further the Tittell Bruno Company. The first of these is Mr John Beauchamp, who is everywhere recognised as the best exponent of "old man" parts on the English stage of to-day. He lias an experience in London dating back fully a quarter of a century, and he Has played under every .rentable theatrical manager of rKo metropolis, including Mr George Edwardes and Mr Beerbohm Tree. Altogether he is a thoroughly all-round capable actor, who will be a decided acquisition to the Australian sta.ge. The other engagement is that of Mr Edgar ilackay, a promising younsr player of the modern sohool whom Mr Charles Frohman regards aa o:_e of t';<* ma^t usaful of the new generation. Both of them are expected to leave London some time during the present month.

As scon as an anno-imcpmont appeared that Mr Julius Knight had befii re-engaged by Mr J. C Williamson, the theatrical "know-alls" ar or>ce got busy regarding his future role*, despite the definite statement of Mr Williamson regarding thorn. One of the most, absurd rumours set afloat was that Mr Knig>ht was froing in for musical comedy, and that he would make his first appearance in "The Duch-oss of Dantzig," the story being rounded off with the confident assertion that ho had a glorious voice. There wjls, as usual, a £?iain of truth in the whole affair. At one time it was suggested that Mr Knight should be cast for t.he part cf Napoleon in "The Duchess of Dantzig" uhen Mr Williamson produced that opera. Of course t h e charaecer was cot given a line of music. But the idea of a musical Xapoleon and a leading man in drama, breaking out as a baritone lover is a blend of the ridiculous sufficiently laughable- to make a comio opera all to itself.

In Cambodia, Cochin China, they go one better than Great Britain, and have their King himself acting aa a theatrical manager. A suzeiain of France, the King of Cambodia intends visiting the French Colonial Exhibition to be liplcl shortly at Marseilles, and. in order that his country may make a good impression, is taking with him the Court's corps de ballet of no fewer than 100 yellow coryphees. When the news reached the French Government, it politely informed his Majesty that, although they were pleased

1 to welcome him, they could not possibly pay the expenses- of 100 hungry ballet girls. The King sent a despatch" saying " Allee same," or words to that effect, and is now taking the girls to France on his own account as a commercial speculation. He intends to introduce the Cambodian style of dancing into every city of magnitude in France, so there is a- chance of the can-can and the chaluit and le cake-walk being doomed. Madame Sara Bernhardt, determined in her fight against the American Theatrical [ Trust, has played in a. circus tent for the iirsfc time, and the performance is described! as " a most brilliant success." It took place at Dallas, Texas, the Texas people observing a public holiday to do honour to the occasion. " Even political meetings," we aretold, " were adjourned" — a true American touch, this!— and all Dallas assembled to cheer her— not only Dallas, indeed, but people from 100 miles distant. Not even: the Theatre Trust, which barred its doors against the great actress, could prevent 7000 people from crowding somehow into a place having seats for only 4200. According to the New York correspondent of the- iondon Daily Telegraph, Madame Bernhardt gave a superb performance of Camille, thrilling the Texas playgoers, as they were- never thrilled before. There . were storms of cheers, which lasted a-, quarter of an hour nearly. After the 5 first cheering 'Subsided, Madame Bernhardt posed for a few seconds, by request of a small army of photographers anxious to secure good records .of her first -appearance in a circus , tent, an idea' which' seems to have greatly tickled most Americans, who, truth to say, rather resent the action of the Theatre Trust. To oblige the actress a telegraph office was installed in the j tent, and before the play she cent a'num- | ber of messages in French -to friends abroad. | What she thought of the business may bo guessed from the following telegram which ' she despatched, to her son..- — " Maurice Bernhardt, Paris. — I cable from this magnificent tent, in which I play to-night. It is amusing and a fairyland. — Adoringly yours, ! Mother, Bernhardt, tent, Dallas, Texas, | March 26." After the performance the j canvas was taken down and immediately -transported' SQfr?mife« to^the next pitch. On ; the next evening at -Waco, the tent was j struck by a stormf" At one time the thunder j and lightning seemed likely, to cause a panic |in the crowded, audience. However, the j actress never faltered for " a nibment, but played as well as ever, and finally the weather improved. A small party of experienced circus men are engaged in the transport of the tent, and they are able- to arrange one-night shows, if desired, at a distance of 100 miles apart. During the greater part of the day Madame Bernhardt remains in a private railway car, which is most comfortably fitted for the tour.

A Frenchman who believes in experience more than theory, has been gathering facts concerning the secret of youth in ectresees, from some of the ladies themselves, with these results. Madame Bernhardt almost always drives in a- closed . car i age to and from the theatre, where she works 11 or 12 hours every clay, " without e-ver seeing;' the light of the sun and without a breath of fresh air." Simple diet offish, and eggs suffices, principally the latter,-" of which she sometimes cats as rnaqy as ten a day. She never drinks anything but champagne. Two months of the year she spends at Belle Isle, her seaside residence, and during that iimc she J6 seldom indoors ; when she is, every window in the house is open, no matter how inclement the weather. These are the days, she claims, when she takes in enough fresh air to last ' for the other 10 months of the year. Her rule of living, summed up as she gives it, is : "No precautions of any kind, unceasing work 10 months of the year." Madame Jane Harding, unlike Sarah Bernhardt, believes in quiet and repose. Madame Jeanne Granier does not know what it is to tHink of one's health. " What is the use of bothering about, hygienic rules when you are well?" 6he asks. "If you are ill there -is a doctor." Mdlie Delua, the famous singer, ridee a bicycle in all kinds of weather; Mdlle Acte, of the opera, takes a cold bath, and walks out every day, rain or sunshine. Mdlle Yvett© Guilbert prescribes fresh air, 10 hours' sleep, and no supper parties.